Merry Christmas from friend of PPO Kris Rodgers!

Kris Rodgers Music
Kris Rodgers Bandcamp

The Cowboys - How the West Was Rocked - 1982

The Cowboys were part of a sizzingly, pre-grunge power pop scene that included such bands as the Moberlys and The Heats (originally the Heaters). One of the most popular bands of the era, the Cowboys opened for such national acts as the B-52s, Billy Idol, X, Split Enz and Tina Turner and performed at such clubs as Astor Park, Baby O’s and Hall of Fame.

In 1981, the Cowboys recorded the single “Rude Boy” and followed up with an EP in 1982. The band’s first full-length album, “How the West Was Rocked,” came out in 1985. But the group never found national fame it deserved. The Cowboys, also known for such songs as “Girls Like That” and “Jet City Rockers,” broke up in 1986. Fisher attributed the group’s demise to disagreements among band members and a reluctance to take out-of-town gigs that might have provided valuable exposure.

Ripped from vinyl @ 320

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Clark - Two Of A Kind - 2005

Clark sounds like the late-great Swedish pop band Beagle with a bit more edge. Also, bands like Avion/Tories, the first album from The Elms, Switchfoot and the commercial side of modern pop are were they slot nicely. Fans of occasionally pumping guitar pop and moving pop balladry, all with sparkling vocals and hooks tripping over each other will dig Clark. These are smashing rock-solid songs with deft and irrepressible charmvocals) -Not Lame

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The Wellingtons - Keeping Up With The Wellingtons - 2005

Australian import and boy is this going to have tongues wagging we hope. This one is classic Not Lame territory. Sounding like a squeeky clean version of The Shazam in many spots, but also a long list of classic pop sounds familiar to the Not Lamer: Bleu, the Churchills, Ike, The Argument and Sun Sawed In 1/2. There`s plenty of "Bellybutton"-era Jellyfish slipping in here, too. The 10 perfect pop nuggets here are ridiculously catchy throwing dream harmonies and hooks all over the place. Each song is melodic and memorable because they are sweetly wrapped up with arrangements that keep it all both fresh and accessible. "Keeping Up With The Wellingtons" is a stunningly well-rounded, consistently hook-driven affair, w/ power pop melodies exploding in every corner of each song. - Not Lame

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The Holidays - The Holidays - 2001

In 2001 The Holidays spent just one day was spent recording the instruments (2 guitars, bass and drums), another day spent with the voices, and a couple more mixing it. People in Portland began to hear the buzz about the band and later in 2001 The Oregonian wrote up a fantastic review of the album. Influenced by such acts as The Posies, Jeff Buckley, and Sunny Day Real Estate, The Holidays expand on the approach of alternative rock. The Holidays blend their influences with their original ideas to the point that they become an incredible mix of indie and classic rock with jazz inspired chord changes to create artful pop music.-CD Baby

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Ciao Bella - 1 - 1997

Ciao Bella's self-titled album strikes a lovely balance between 60s pop touches and the semi-futuristic pop the March label usually deals in -- portions of the record do pretty much the same thing the Olivia Tremor Control's Dusk at Cubist Castle do ("How Low"), but the chirpy collages and Beatlesque harmonies of this aesthetic are tempered by big guitar sounds and modern organ usage that give Ciao Bella an entirely different tone. -AMG

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A little present from Herb Eimerman

The Shoes Christmas comp "Yuletunes" came out 20 years ago this season....i just got around to doing a video for my track.  peace...herb eimerman





Grab the rest of Yuletunes over at the great Power Pop Criminals site and be sure to thank Angelo!

James Michael - Inhale - 2000

James Michael, who bases his fan club in Owasso, OK, really touches the epicenter of the working man's rock & roll soul. Inhale is a passionate, dreamy, uplifting, and gut-wrenching performance. With his first major release, Michael goes forward with his shimmering born-to-be-a-rock-star presence and uncanny songwriting craftsmanship. Critics in Los Angeles have dubbed his vocal harmonies and stage presence hauntingly similar to the late Kurt Cobain. Yet, it is Michael's sincerity and openness to creative expression both lyrically and melodically that make this debut album special. "Maybe I should cut us both some slack/Maybe I should cut me out completely and try to get you back," sings Michael as a statement of desperation and longing in the dense and dynamic "Slack." "January" is a poignant and colorful song of triumph, detailing Michael's triumph of life and musical success after experiencing many years of horrific bands that took him nowhere. While his music has now made it to mainstream record shops, he's certainly not going to wait around for success to come to him. -AMG


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The Cowboys - Jet City Rockers - 1998

The Cowboys were, like The Heats, a fixture on the Seattle rock/pop scene for the first half of the 80`s and you can feel the sweat and the heat of the clubs as they bash out adrenaline-filled rockabilly and rock-fueled pop that`s like a Flying Color/Blasters meets The Moberly party! Or what The Clash might have sounded like if they grew up in the mid-West (even tho The Cowboys are from Seattle, they have more in common with The Suburbs than The Sonics!). A really cool collection -Not Lame

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SPECIAL HOLIDAY PROMOTION: THE HANDCUFFS PHYSICAL CDs ON SALE NOW FOR ONLY $8.99!

Need a stocking stuffer or five? Need easy & fun gifts for friends, relatives, co-workers, babysitters, pet sitters, dog walkers, hair dressers, etc.? Want to support independent artists, while helping a fantastic animal rescue organization? Right now, all three of The Handcuffs' physical CD releases are on sale at CD Baby for only $8.99, including our brand new release "Waiting for the Robot!" Hurry, sale ends December 26, 2011.

PLUS, for every physical Handcuffs' CD sold between now and December 26, The Handcuffs will donate $1 to Elayne Boosler's Tails of Joy, a wonderful, nationwide, non-profit, pet rescue organization. Founded by comedian Elayne Boosler, Tails of Joy is staffed only by volunteers, so 100 percent of donated funds goes directly to help provide food, shelter, medicine, spay/neuter programs, emergency help and more. Help us spread the joy with music and a little help for our furry friends!

To buy CD's click here

Have a wonderful holiday season and a safe, happy and music filled new year!

Cheers,
The Handcuffs

www.thehandcuffs.com
www.facebook.com/thehandcuffs
www.twitter.com/thehandcuffs
www.reverbnation.com/thehandcuffs
www.youtube.com/thehandcuffs

Marvelous 3 - Readysexgo! - 2000

Marvelous 3 is an absolutely killer slice of pop/punk/metal. Marvelous 3 are essentially Cheap Trick retooled for the 21st century, although these guys also have the sex-and-drugs misogynist attitude of mid-'80s hair metal bands (which may explain why Motley Crue's Nikki Sixx makes a cameo here on an answering machine message). High class musical references abound, such as Def Leppard and Queen in some of the choruses, Material Issue and Green Day in some of the guitar parts, plus hints of '70s glam (which may explain why "Cigarette Lighter Love Song," co-written with David Bowie, has a chorus which sounds suspiciously like "All the Young Dudes.")

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Butch Walker - Left of Self-Centered - 2002

Singer, songwriter, producer and all-around rock & roll auteur Walker goes it solo for the first time, after his moderately successful fling in the Marvelous 3 and handling production for upstarts like SR-71 and Injected. He plays almost all the instruments except drums (handled by fellow Atlanta resident Kenny Cresswell), but brings in guests like Mötley Crüe bassist Nikki Sixx for a track and even Peter Searcy on cello. Although nothing here is a major departure from the snotty, riff-based '70s-styled catchy hard rock that powered the Marvelous 3, Walker acquits himself admirably with a handful of terrific songs and enough brash swagger to make the rest sound at least like quality filler. The booklet displays this album (or a non-existent vinyl version of it) strewn among various rock star-associated trash; half-eaten pizza, eight-track tapes, underwear, an old pair of headphones, and a fake Rolling Stone feature are all scattered on an orange shag rug. The photo not only typifies the music, but shows Walker's influences, which he proudly displays on these 11 frequently rockin' tracks. The album's first single and most immediately catchy tune is "My Way" (not the Sinatra song), which epitomizes Walker's crunchy guitar attack. Lyrics like "There's a right way/Then there's my way/There's a highway/If you don't like it you can take it" exemplify the artist's no-BS philosophy. At worst, although he energetically puts across a song, Walker's voice isn't particularly distinctive, and the closing track (which follows 15 minutes of silence) is a worthless goof. But when he works a hooky chorus like the Badfinger-styled "Far Away From Close," grabs onto Oasis' melodic sweep on the personal "Sober," uses subtle loops to infuse a slight contemporary feel on "Into the Black," or adds strings and female backing vocals on the punchy "Get Down," Walker walks on terra firma. With forceful playing, muscular production, and self-assured confidence, he plows through these tunes like the seasoned pro he is. It adds up to about 40 minutes of pretension-free classic rocking that never sounds dated or passé. -AMG

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The Records featuring John Wicks – A welcomed return by Rich Rossi

We were all returning to campus, gearing up for another grueling semester, and the kickoff was the Labor Day weekend concert on the Quad featuring Syracuse’s own Flashcubes opening for the headline act, The Records. John Wicks, Will Birch, Phil Brown, and Huw Gower took the stage and my definition of pop music changed entirely.
Thirty years later Wicks is still going strong as evidenced by his latest, actually a reissue of his 2007 release entitled “Rotate”. Having bought and thoroughly enjoyed the original, I gave the reissue a listen and, well, it’s even better if that’s possible.
My music reviews are unorthodox so rather than subject you to my amateur observations I thought I’d site the review Dave Steinfeld did for Blurt. He’s much smarter than I. First, in the event that you’re even older and more memory challenged than I, let’s let Dave walk us down memory lane:

Many people remember only their biggest hit, “Starry Eyes,” but the fact is, these guys turned out three excellent albums (well, two and a half) between 1979 and 1982. Wicks wrote most of the melodies while drummer Will Birch contributed the lion’s share of the lyrics. The result was something like what The Beatles or Kinks might have produced if they had emerged in the aftermath of punk.

So what about the new release? Here’s a short snippet of what Dave has to say about Rotate:

The arrangements on Rotate are crisp and Wicks proves himself an adept lyricist while remaining a top-notch melody man. All in all, this is a welcome return from a musician who is way more talented than his low profile would lead you to believe.

I’ve always thought of the Records’ genius as being a combination of Wicks’ incomparable ability to weave a melody that sticks with Birch’s sense of humor and ability to turn a memorable phrase. The rest was decoration. I’ve come to realize Wicks had the whole package all along. He’s just now getting a chance to show us.
Read Dave Steinfeld’s entire review of Rotate here. Buy the new Rotate with bonus tracks at Amazon.com or at Wicks’ site at johnwicksandtherecords.com.

Years ago while attending art school Rich spent many hours listening to XTC, The Records, The Heats, Plimsouls and other powerpop bands of that time. Many children's books, greeting cards and website designs later he finds himself (quite by accident) in the employ of a few powerpop artists. I'm not name dropping but they include, John Wicks, Paul Collins and many more.


Life has come full circle. You can find Rich at www.rossibook.com if your so inclined.

Nothing is happening on Bad Afro

Nothing is happenin! If you feel like that nothing is happening on Bad Afro at the moment you are absolutely right! The fact is that all the planned 7”s are delayed at once for various reasons so all planning has gone down the drain. The Vambourines 7” has been delayed since the band (nor the label involved) really liked the mixes that Mike McHugh did and now they are re-recoding some parts of the songs as well as mixing them by themselves. Royal Baths recently signed to the US label Kanine (Grizzly Bear, Surfer Blood etc.) and relocated to New York at the same time so they have to find their own feet before recording the announced 7” on Bad Afro. The Cosmonauts 7” is just late in general and The Dolly Rocker Movement will record their upcoming 7” here in December to be released some time in the spring. Which leaves us with the Baby Woodrose album Third Eye Surgery due out in April 2012 and the above singles when they are ready. Stay tuned!


Bad Afro Records
Halmtorvet 29, Bygn. 12 A, 1
1700 Copenhagen V
Denmark
http://www.badafro.dk

Cone of Silence - Sixty-Grit Sandpaper And Other Delights - 2004

With the release of the long awaited "Sixty-Grit Sandpaper and Other Delights," Cone of Silence has returned triumphantly to the power pop world! Vue Magazine's reaction to the album, a simple haiku, reflects much of the critical acclaim accorded the new disc:

"Pure Pop Genius Really, It's Embarrassing Just How Good They Are"

High praise indeed! With comparisons ranging from that of The Pursuit of Happiness and Odds, to The Who and even Cake, it's clear that as folks try to put a label on the Cones, "Sixty-Grit" definitely treads its own sonic ground. After playing a number of dates in Edmonton (including a show at the venerable Sidetrack Cafe recorded by CBC), Cone of Silence is looking forward to playing the International Pop Overthrow in Vancouver at the end of the summer of 2006, Mark Sander and Pat Strain both have new songs at the ready to be recorded.

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12 all-new astonishing Dwight Twilley songs!

Just Released

12 all-new astonishing Dwight Twilley songs!

Dwight Twilley - best known for his iconic hits through the decades like “I’m On Fire” (1975), “Girls” (1984) and the classic ballad “Why You Wanna Break My Heart” featured in the motion picture Wayne’s World (1992)

Soundtrack is not an album with all the best cuts jammed at the beginning. It plays like a book that urges you to read from start to finish. The album is a masterful production with 12 all new astonishing Dwight Twilley songs.

Special guests on the album include Susan Cowsill (The Cowsills) who contributed her typically amazing harmonies on “Bus Ticket”, “God Didn’t Do It” and “The Cards Will Fall,” and fellow Tulsan Taylor Hanson (Hanson) who adds organ and magical keyboard sprinkles to "The Cards Will Fall” and “The Last Time Around.”

Track List:

1. “You Close Your Eyes”
2. “Bus Ticket”
3. “Tulsa Town”
4. “Skeleton Man”
5. “My Life”
6. “God Didn’t Do It”
7. “Out in the Rain”
8. “Soundtrack”
9. “The Lonely One”
10. “The Cards Will Fall”
11. “Good Things Come Hard”
12. “The Last Time Around”






Now available at dwighttwilley.com and Itunes

Grey Does Matter - How to Make Millions in Real Estate - 2004

Press material for the latest rock band usually seeks to leave the reader with the impression that group X is the best thing since Elvis, the Beatles, the Sex Pistols, or whoever. The truth always comes, however, when the listener places the disc in the player and turns up the volume. Words like "lo-fi" and "power pop" decorate Grey Does Matter's press materials, but they only provide a partial clue to how catchy How to Make Millions in Real Estate is. The opener, "Sinking," and its follow-up, "Zero," are filled with enticing hooks, bitter lyrics, and walls of guitar. The sound is further ornamented with some bizarre synthesizer work and an intense layering of voices. Surprisingly, all of this beguiling noise seems to come from one man, Jason Crawford, who wrote, sang, and played everything on How to Make Millions in Real Estate. This is the type of infectious music that creates volume creep: the listener keeps turning it up until everyone in the house/apartment has to tune in or leave. If the program drops off a little over the course of 11 songs, that has less to do with quality than with just how good the early part of the album is. Crawford's album will not teach the listener anything about making money in real estate, but fans of power pop, lo-fi, and tuneful punk will want to check it out nonetheless. -AMG

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Scamper - Leave Your Glasses On - 2004

Scamper is a Boston based power-pop / rock band, formed in 2001 when upstate NY transplants and singer-songwriter-guitarists Keith Michel and Nate Rogers teamed up with Mike Mirabella (drums) and Marc Roderick (bass) in Boston, combining their collective pop sensibilities in their bid to win over New England with rock and roll. Marc and Scamper parted in summer 2004, and the band brought in bassist Brendan Clarke to fill the void.

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The Grip Weeds - Under The Influence Of Christmas

The Grip Weeds have delivered a very groovy Christmas album, featuring new yuletide originals alongside reworkings of classic rock and traditional holiday songs, all arranged in their own inimitable “sparkling, insanely catchy psych-pop” style that will make you hear the colors and see the sounds of Christmas. The band invited some special guest artists to help with the proceedings: Mark Lindsay (of Paul Revere & the Raiders), Myke Scavone and Gar Francis (The Doughboys) on the original “Santa Make Me Good”, Pat Dinizio and Jim Babjak (The Smithereens) on The Pretenders’ “2000 Miles”, George Cameron (The Left Banke) on “For The Holidays” (another new original), Vince Grogan (Third Of Never, Buzzed Meg) on a rocking version of Jethro Tull’s “A Christmas Song”, and Pete Horvath, Rob Farrell (The Anderson Council) on a very Who-like “Welcome Christmas” from "How The Grinch Stole Christmas"! The record is the anti-humbug for the discerning music fan who's looking for a hit of lysergic eggnog this holiday season.

Under The Influence Of Christmas will be available on CD and MP3 at all major music outlets including Kool Kat on Dec 6th but the band is already shipping it from their website as a download, CD or vinyl.

Arlo - Stab the Unstoppable Hero - 2002

Combining the aesthetics of power pop, grunge, and hard rock, Los Angeles' Arlo has spawned a big album with big hooks, big harmonies, and an even bigger guitar attack that should endear them to the vast American teenage wasteland. Classic rock influences abound, especially when the band barely stops short of cobbling the all-too-familiar octave riff of the Knack's seminal new wave anthem "My Sharona" in "Runaround." Cuts such as "Culture," "Little American," and "Working Title" all explode with the most unflappable characteristics of modern rock radio currency, namely adolescent angst meshed with raging hormones and wandering spirits. The odd time signature in title track underpins a tale of despair that belies the infectious singalong chorus. Stab the Unstoppable Hero is an enjoyable and youthful romp that proves the kids are all right aftejavascript:void(0)r all. -AMG

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Uptown Sinclair - Uptown Sinclair - 2001

Cleveland rockers Uptown Sinclair capture the chills, thrills, peaks, and valleys of their explosive live show on this enjoyable self-titled debut disc. Guitar-driven, hearty on melody, heavy on harmony, and unabashedly descendent of the Hollies, Small Faces, Big Star, Brian Wilson, and Cheap Trick, cuts such as "Girlfriend," "Superman," and "Sentimental" are achingly familiar to anyone who came of age with ears pressed to a transistor radio in the 1970s or cheerfully endured the hair metal-meets-bubblegum revival of the late '80s. Lead voice Dave Hill is the consummate heartbreak hero. He loves, he lusts, he laments, and he hardly labors over lyrics that will never mount a challenge Bob Dylan, Bob Pollard, or Bob Thomas. But that's not the point here. With the exception of Lou Reed, who cares that these exuberant post-punk-pop pirates nicked the chords to "Sweet Jane" for "First Thing in The Morning"? It's only rock & roll. They like it, and you'll like it too. A guilty pleasure worth pandering to. -AMG

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Tommy Tutone - Nervous Love - 1996

Although it's credited as a Tommy Tutone record, Nervous Love is actually the work of Tommy Heath after the band's demise. There's nothing as instantly endearing as "Jenny (867-5309)" or "Angel Say No," but this is a fine collection of mainly working-class/bar-band rock & roll crossed with power-pop that isn't too dissimilar to Tommy Tutone's heyday. -AMG

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Maple Mars - Welcome to Maple Mars - 2001

Welcome to Maple Mars is a fine introduction to Rick Hromadka's prodigious and multi-varied talents as skillful songwriter and musician. The album started off as a Hromadka solo project in the summer of 2000, shortly after he'd dissolved his previous band, Double Naught Spies. Hromadka was by then ready to move on and ready to stretch out as a composer, knowing that Double Naught Spies weren't likely ready to make the same journey with him. And so he went, performing intimate shows in L.A., often playing just piano (although this multi-instrumentalist is adeptly talented on just about every instrument you can think of). This period of self-discovery led to him taking giants steps forward from his previous efforts -- the proof is this album, actually. Still, Hromadka missed the kinetic energy of having a live band with him on-stage and in the studio, which led him to invite a few of his friends to join him on this adventure, including drummers Mike Fletcher (credited as the only other member of Maple Mars here, although Hromadka has since assembled a full group) and Steve Berns, guitarist Phil Rosenthal (Twenty Cent Crush), and multi-instrumentalist Rick Gallego (Cloud Eleven). The opening track, "Welcome to Maple Mars," is a fine introduction and begins with a Sgt. Pepper-y crowd-noise intro before launching into a barre-chorded power surge of swirling guitars and hummable melodies. "I Thought I Knew You Well" is an excellent guitar jag, with warm-chorus harmonies that trade off with aspic-tinged verses. Gallego guests on the semi-psych pop "Fly," a high note with the album's hookiest chorus, and "Afterglow," a rich, head-bobbing soft rock explosion (it may remind some fans of his band, Cloud Eleven, at least in spirit). The sublime "Silver Spy Satellite" ambles on a loping acoustic guitar and percussion beat (it's similar to America's ghostly "Horse With No Name"), but there's a sleepy-eyed slide guitar that sells the tune. The album ends with "Wonderwalla"'s carnival-esque intro, leading into a moody organ outro, then a few seconds pass before a minute-long Monkees-esque hidden track slips in under the wire. The only negative comment overall is that a few of the songs tend to go on a bit too long after they've made their main point, but this is a minor complaint and shouldn't deter fans from seeking out this outstanding (and deep) pop wonder. -AMG


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Mandrew - Mandrew - 2004

Mandrew is the latest local offering from Martin Devaney's all things Americana imprint Eclectone Records. Featuring First Prize Killer guitarist Mike Andrew sliding into the front man role with backing from his FPK bandmates (and additional contributions from Twin Cities indie-rock stalwarts like Work of Saws' Brock Davis and Walker Kong's Jeremy Ackerman), Mandrew is a laid-back summertime pop record not too far removed from FPK's Powdery Parade, which means that it will be this year's perfect backing soundtrack to back porch beer swilling. That being said, the record is still surprisingly varied and ambitious for being the product of a relaxed home recording project. "Pick Up Your Floor" is a convincing spin on the kind of slight yet insidiously catchy indie-pop the Shins are riding to mass success. Elsewhere the band tries its hand at spacey country waltzes ("When Charity Fails") and fuzzed-out stomp rock ("The Classic Clues") with great success. In the end Mandrew is yet another instantly enjoyable yet surprisingly durable roots-flavored pop album from the Eclectone Records stable. -City Pages

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V/A - xo for the Holidays - 2011

When is it the right time to start pushing holiday music… WHEN Justin Bieber’s holiday album is charting top 20 on itunes! YIKES!

Christmas is almost here and I am sure there will be no shortage of gift ideas placed in your path during the next few weeks. Newspapers, Radio and TV will be filled with ads offering novel, interesting, compelling, and occasionally useful gifts for those on your list!

Home of the fabulous Backsliders, xo publicity offers up their forth installment of "xo for the Holidays"! Best of all, this one is free! Ho Ho Ho! Happy Holidays from xo!

V/A - xo for the Holidays - 2011

xo-kaytea
www.xopublicity.com
http://xopublicity.blogspot.com/
http://twitter.com/xopublicity

The Motels - The Motels - 1979

1979's self-titled debut release from the California band the Motels comes across as what a less pretentious Doors might have sounded like had they emerged during the new wave era. The Motels is a fairly cold, almost robotic affair which trades in lyrics that explore the darker side of life in Los Angeles. There are a few tracks that bear repeated listens like the frantic "Kix" and "Celia," a warning to a woman involved with the wrong guy. "Total Control," a big hit for the band in Australia and later covered by Tina Turner, is the album's standout with its menacing lyrics of possession delivered by Martha Davis. She is the one consistently redeeming attraction of this dated record. Although she tends to over-sing at times, Davis is a riveting and sensual vocalist and her vocals hint at the potential in the band. -AMG

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The Green Beetles - The Basement

Here is a good one from friend of PPO Herb Eimerman!
Check out the Power Pop pedigree for this one.
Recorded in our respective homes and mixed by Joe.

Our Xmas gift to you. Also available on the ROCK Against Bullshit Vol.6 CD.

www.facebook.com/pages/ROCK-Against-Bullshit/247467691935617

rockagainstbullshit@hotmail.com


Joe Algeri...Guitar and lead vocal...Australia
Dom Mariani...Lead Guitars and background vocals...Australia
Herb Eimerman...Bass Guitar...12 string acoustic guitar...background vocals...U.S.A
Stefan Johansson...Drums...Sweden




Thanks Herb!

Protones - Not That Difficult - 1998

A power pop band from Spain, Protones debuted with the release of an EP attached to the first issue of a fanzine called Rock Indiana, followed by their first album, Cartunes. After issuing Nothing to Say in 1996, the Plimsouls' Paul Collins teamed up with the band, producing their following record, Not That Difficult. Protones moved to California to participate in the International Pop Overthrow soon after. In 1999, guitarist Octavio (aka Octavio Vinck) and bassist Tato (aka David Tato) joined the band. In 2001, the Spanish group returned with Come Out and Play, including "Now That I Think of It," a song featured in the movie No Te Fallaré. -AMG

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The Oranges - Teen Rock - 2006

Japanese import at a great price from a long-time Not Lame fave. Why? Well, pull up a chair and listen, my dear friend. This purely entrenched in 1975 pop band that pulls of glammy pop cum Bay City Rollers quite wonderfully. The best power pop band to come out of Japan, The Oranges produce incredibly pure, hip, catchy, Japanese bubblegum-power music. So if you like the idea of a pure power pop, bubblegummy extraganza of Bay City Rollers, glammy T. Rex and Sweet, then you have heaven here. The best power pop band to come out of Japan, The Oranges produce incredibly pure, hip, catchy, Japanese bubblegum-power music. With their Bay City Roller "look" and Bo Donaldson and The Heywoods haircuts, this foursome display catchy riffs and power guitars, while singing of love and dreams. But disclaimer,xenophobes: they sing in Japanese. But, trust me...while some may not dig that, with the Oranges, it could not be less of a tripping pop lovers! -Not Lame

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The CRY! needs your love

The CRY! is a music sensation emerging from the eclectic arts scene of Portland, OR. With heavy pop influences like The Beach Boys, The Who, Nick Lowe and The Sweet, the band has re-crafted the 2 min. pop song for a new generation. The CRY! effortlessly merges 50's style vocal harmonies and the jangle of 60's pop hooks with the raw punkish emotion of the PDX street culture.

While its members are young (18-21), The CRY! motto: “Don't Suck” has produced a professionalism, work ethic and sense-of-purpose typically seen in older well-seasoned acts. In a few short months The CRY!’s rare musical chemistry, upbeat energy and hooky songwriting have garnered over 6,000 “plays” and earned the band #1 and top #25 on Reverb Nation’s local and national charts respectively! Additionally, after a recent a live performance at the International Pop Overthrow (IPO) Festival in Seattle WA, The CRY! was the only act to receive an “A+” rating


Head over to their website and get yourself a copy now!!

Revernation: thecrypdx

Facebook: the cry pdx

Website: www.thecrypdx.com

The Shamrock - The Mods Are Alright - 2004

This was THE power pop band in Japan in the 80`s..they were huge. This collection documents a good part of this story gathering up a bunch of studio demos(great sounding!) and live trax. The sound is classic early Jam, Beatles `64 and The Undertones, as well as The Vapors.....mix up The Who, The Smal Faces and you have some pure pop joy. This Japanese release is very reasonably priced so it`s well, well worth more than a casual sniff. The first 8 songs of this 23 song affair are worth the price of admission. The singing is classic late 70`s skinny tie mod-power pop and they mix Japanese and English lyrics throughout, amusingly. -Not Lame

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Silicon Ballet - Sunglasses

If you haven't managed to catch anything by Silicon Ballet yet, I'd really encourage you to have a listen to their new single, available via our the Rainboot label (and all the big evil places like iTunes too) - four and a half minutes of your time well spent!



The single is out ahead of the band's mini-album Utopia which will be out next February.

The Onoma/Two label presents... TODD AID

Todd Dillingham

A message from the excellent Terry Burrows.

As some of you may know, our dear friend and collaborator Todd Dillingham is currently undergoing some heavy duty cancer surgery in Florida.To help him with his medical expenses, we're offering two download albums from our Bandcamp.com site, which we launched last week. The albums are Yukio Yung's "Goodbye Pork Pie Brain/Hello Pulsing Vein" and Chrysanthemums' "The Baby's Head".

Todd made guest appearances on both of these albums. They originally appeared in the late 1990s variously on vinyl and CD issued by record labels in Germany, and this is the first time they have been available online. Individual tracks are priced at .99 GBP or for 6.99 GBP you can get the complete album. ALL OF THE INCOME, ONCE ONLINE FEES HAVE BEEN DEDUCTED, WILL GO TO TODD - WHICH SHOULD BE SOMETHING LIKE 6 GBP/ALBUM.For those of you who don't know Bandcamp.com, it's hugely preferable to iTunes as a download site. You can listen to streamed versions of the *complete* songs (not just 30-second clips), and downloads are of much higher sound quality (mp3s are 320Kb rather than 192Kb,or you can have lossless FLACs). Paying is very straightforward – click on "Buy Now" and pay using Bandcamp's secure system using the likes of PayPal, Visa or Mastercard.So we invite you to take a listen to what we (and Todd) were doing at the end of the last century.And, of course, any contributions to Todd Aid! will be gratefully received.Thanks for your time.Onoma Research

http://onomaresearch.bandcamp.com/

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Maybe Dolls - Propaganda - 1991

Maybe Dolls were an Australian pop/rock band that released one album, “Propaganda,” in 1991. The band’s core was brother and sister duo Chris and Annalisse Morrow, who had previously performed as The Numbers in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The band scored regional hits with the singles “Nervous Kid” and “Cool Jesus.”


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Thanks to friend of PPO David!

Trolley - Things That Shine And Glow is now available

Perennial PPO favorites Trolley has a new album out now! The new album feels fresh and current while still maintaining the energy and vibe of the 60's. "Things That Shine And Glow" is pure power pop and a delight to your ears and it sounds amazing. Follow the link below to download your copy now or you can get the physical CD at  www.cdbaby.com/trolley12!   Highly recommended.



You can "like" Trolley on facebook and tell them you heard about the new album from PPO!

The Numbers - 39.51 - 1982

Over the course of 3 years, The Numbers released one E.P., six singles and two LP's. Many will remember them from their numerous Countdown appearances and their first two singles, the hits: 'The Modern Song' and 'Five Letter Word' and their self-titled debut LP. However, there's a whole lot more to their story. Although The Numbers reached their commercial peak early ('Five Letter Word' was their last charting single), they continued to release excellent material - four more singles and a neglected second album: 39.51 (the title was a curt response to the criticism of their debut LP's 28 minute length). The core, and only constant during their five year career, of The Numbers was the brother and sister team of Chris and Annalisse Morrow. In Chris, they had an excellent songwriter and inventive guitarist and, in Annalisse, an equally accomplished musician and a striking focal point.

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Thanks to friend of PPO David. 

The Numbers - The Numbers - 1980

Between 1978 and 1984, Sydney group The Numbers plied their trade on the basis of the very smart and snappy songs of guitarist Christian Morrow and his younger sister, bass player and vocalist Annalisse. Two albums, seven singles and roughly a hundred drummers later, the group were dropped by their label and split up.

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Thanks to friend of PPO  David!

Spy vs Spy - A.O. Mod. TV - 1986

A.O. Mod. TV. Version is the second studio album by Australian rock band Spy vs Spy, produced by Leszek Karski (Boys Next Door, Midnight Oil, Nauts) and released through WEA on 8 December 1986.
The title is an abbreviation of 'Adults Only Television Version' which used to appear at the bottom of late night movies in Australia at the time. The album peaked at #12 on the Kent Music Report and went gold. For this album Spy vs Spy recorded as v. Spy v. Spy, and the line-up was the original trio Craig Bloxom on bass guitar/lead vocals, Cliff Grigg on drums/percussion and Mike Weiley on lead guitar/vocals.

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Digital Download Derby

The Yep Roc Store is offering fans a chance to stock up their digital music collection with unbeatable deals on some of Yep Roc's best releases. Now through Friday 11/18, they have reduced the price on 100 titles from the Yep Roc vault to just $3.99 each.

Don't miss your chance to save on amazing releases from Chuck Prophet, Dave Alvin, John Doe, Los Straitjackets, Jukebox the Ghost, The Sadies, Peggy Sue, The Minus 5 and more!

Art in America - Art in America - 1983

begins as delicate, somewhat elegant album with a pleasing mix of harp, guitar and keyboard that slowly changes to a more arena rock sound with progressive touches that make the band sounds like Asia meets Breathe. A pretty and slightly mystic album with hints of album rock and pop, Art in America was overlooked upon its release.- AMG

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Eric Marcos - Disposable Friend - 2005

The long awaited follow-up disc from Eric and his band features support from most of the Boston music scene, including Bill Janovitz, Todd Thibaud, Mike Gent (The Figgs) and many others. But all I can say is this one helluva power parade of pumping pop with balls! A few of you may remember a band from LA called Code Blue, a few songs on this fabulous debut remind me of that band, at the their best. But, generally, what the Boston Globe says below is dead-on...they sound like early Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers. It`s just a tour-de-force of rock `n roll spirit---what a blast this must have been to make? That energy and vibe is on full display here, that`s for sure. Extremely Highly Recommended! -Not Lame

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Connells - Old-School Dropouts - 2001

Like 1998's Still Life, Old-School Drop Outs continues the Connells' move away from the more experimental nature of Weird Food and Devastation. This album, self-released after their long, fruitful relationship with the TVT label finally came to an end, finds the Connells building on their classic sound, a world of wistful lyrics, strong guitars, and gorgeous melodies -- a world where the childhood dreams of Boylan Heights are only a heartbeat away. Fans of the brand of guitar pop this North Carolina group has been harvesting since the Athens-to-Raleigh frenzy in the mid-'80s will find themselves in comfortably familiar territory. Mike Connell and George Huntley's guitars still have just enough bite to keep things out of saccharine territory, and Doug MacMillan's boyish timbre still sounds as sincere as it did all of those years ago. Highlights include the driving stomp of "Put Down" and the pretty sentiments and soaring guitar leads of "Gladiator Heart," while the bittersweet romanticism of "Rusted Fields" is up there with the Connells' most beautiful work. This represents the group's first effort since the departure of longtime drummer Peele Wimberley. -AMG

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Daryll-Ann - Happy Traum - 2001

Though the album's title is named after a famous folk musician who authors instructional guitar books and videos, has recorded several solo records, and collaborated with Bob Dylan and Maria Muldaur, Happy Traum is an aural trek back to the breezy, organic pop/rock of the late '60s and early '70s. Happy Traum, which translates as happy dream, brims with infectious melodies, jangly guitars, and vocal harmonies reminiscent of solo Paul McCartney, Badfinger, and the Kinks. Considered to be among Holland's best pop exports, Daryll-Ann romps through this collection of rockers ("When You Cry"), folksy ballads ("Money or Love"), cosmic country honky tonk ("Feelings," "All By Myself"), and emo rock ("Riverside") with a blithe spirit. Though not essential, Happy Traum is a well-crafted, enjoyable collection of ear candy. -AMG

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Sparkle*Jets U.K. - In, Through and Beyond - 1998

In, Through, and Beyond, the debut effort by L.A.'s Sparkle*Jets U.K., was the irreverent antidote to snoringly classicist late-'90s power pop acts. While Sparkle*Jets are a power pop band by virtue of their influences, exhibited here in their wonderful choice of covers (Electric Light Orchestra's "Above the Clouds," Big Star's "Thirteen," and the Beach Boys' "Girl Don't Tell Me"), they steer clear of clichés and remember that pop music is fun by design. While many modern pop revivalists play guitar pop like it belongs in a museum, Sparkle*Jets rock with abandon through these 15 tracks, smirking all the while. Sure, the songs can be goofy; there's a song about "Surfing Monkeys," and "Oh Poor Me" is more or less the female answer to the Smiths' "Girlfriend in a Coma," in which the girl doesn't mind that her narcissistic boyfriend dies in a fiery car wreck while trying to change CDs. And it doesn't stop there -- "My Internet Love Song (To You)," which crams computer jargon into a bouncy love song, is easily one of the most clever geek rock anthems ever written. Sure, the album sags a little toward the end, but the humor doesn't wear thin after a few listens because the hooks are strong and the two frontpersons are appealing. Mike Simmons and Susan West are like polar opposites -- Simmons' boyish, innocent voice provides the ideal backdrop for the album's more typically power poppy moments, while West is a little more prone to let loose with her very rock & roll set of pipes. The end result is a relentlessly energetic, delightfully cheery, and thoroughly entertaining debut record. -AMG

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See you in a couple of days

Sorry folks, but I have to do a lot of running around for the next couple of days, and so, new stuff here will be spotty at best. I'll be back very soon. Try to hold back your tears.

Curty Ray

Kurt Baker - Rockin' For A Living now available...

The brand new record from Kurt Baker.. "Rockin' For A Living".. Out NOW on Oglio Records. Vinyl released by Stardumb Records and Torreznetes Entertainment!


Whatcha waitin' for, get it now!

1. Just Forget About It
2. Don’t Steal My Heart Away
3. Can’t Have Her Back
4. Kiss Me
5. Why You Gotta Lie?
6. The Problem



Produced by Kurt Baker & Wyatt Funderburk
Executive Producer: Carl Caprioglio


Kurt Baker - "Don't Steal My Heart Away" from Tasty Dude Films on Vimeo.

Personnel:
Kurt Baker - Lead & Background Vox, Bass Guitar, Electric Guitar

Kris “Fingers” Rodgers - Background Vox, Rhodes, Hammond, Farfisa,
Piano, Privia-tone

Josh Malia - Rhythm Guitar/Lead Guitar, Backing Vox

Geoff Useless - Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vox

Wyatt Funderburk - Bass Guitar, Lead/Rhythm Guitar, Backing Vox

Craig Sala - Drums, Percussion

Additional Musicians:

Mike Byrne - Lead Guitar
Michael “Miek” Rodrigue - Lead Guitar